“Madonna, but for podcasts” — Spotify’s $100M Joe Rogan exclusive. Walmart’s essentiality cape. Moderna’s vaccine bet.
The biggest podcast in the world just went exclusive with Spotify, making it the biggest punch yet in the battle for your ears (Joe's now an orchid in Spotify's gated garden). Walmart’s earnings reveal what happens when one business is made “essential” and its competition is deemed “non-essential.” Someone’s going to win the COVID-19 vaccine race — Moderna is the $30B biotech company whose good trial results just excited markets. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
20 Touko 202018min
“The most unprofitable company on Earth” — Softbank’s garage sale. Peet’s $2.2B re-IPO. Detroit’s Big 3 return.
Even though IPOs are basically not happening, Peet’s Coffee is about to do one because… coffee — they think it’s recession-proof. Startup-obsessed Softbank is the least profitable company in the world right now (cough, WeWork/Uber, cough), so it’s having a tech garage sale. And Detroit’s Big 3 carmakers have re-opened factories, so we’re looking at why that’s the most milestone-y moment of the corona-conomy (FYI, 3M Americans work in auto). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
19 Touko 202018min
“GIPHY didn’t get Zuck’d” — McDonald’s post-corona playbook. Luckin’s scalding pivot. Facebook acquires Giphy.
Facebook needs to spice up its messaging game, so it’s splurging $400M to control your gif game: Buying Giphy. McDonald’s whipped up a 59-page playbook on how to reopen its restaurants post COVID-19. And remember Luckin Coffee’s $310M fraud last month? It’s pivoting its core biz because it’s more tech than latte. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
18 Touko 202016min
“Work-leisurewear, by Lululemon” — Smile Direct Club’s cavity. Sleeper’s fantasy sports fix. Lululemon’s nirvana COVID moment
Data from Lululemon shows it’s uniquely found balance in the coronaconomy for extremely specific reasons. Smile Direct Club should be the Peloton of oral care, but it simply hasn’t been. And Sleeper is the “not-quite-Unicorn of the Day” after raising $20M from Andreessen Horowitz to finally fix fantasy sports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
15 Touko 202018min
“Work From Work (still a thing)” — $43M for Pizza-nomics. Google’s 12-mile-high wifi. Commercial Real Estate’s WFW problem.
Google’s secret Loon project just graduated to deliver wifi via balloon globally (and we’re thinking it’s a potential rare double-profit-puppy). Pizza ordering platform Slice is doing the opposite of all the delivery apps — it’s all about pizza-nomics (the unique economic principles of pizza joints). And while the world is straight-up WFH right now (Work From Home), we’re looking at the publicly-traded companies that are straight-up WFW (Work From Work). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
14 Touko 202017min
“Twitter goes Work-From-Home…Forever” — Uber Eats acquirin’ Grubhub. Vroom’s ecommerce car IPO. Twitter’s WFH megatrend.
New work update from Twitter: You don’t have to come back. Ever. Grubhub stock jumped over 30% on word Uber Eats wants to buy it, calling a Delivery Wars mafia truce. And Vroom is our “Unicorn of the Day” as it plans to IPO its online car sales (aka ecomm cars). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
13 Touko 202017min
“Bitcoin’s ‘Halvening’ just halvened” — Tesla vs. California. Amazon’s movie theater interest. Bitcoin’s Halvening.
After a year of just chilling, Bitcoin is back and demanding your attention with a once-every-four-years event: “The Halvening.” Elon threatened to move his car company outta Silicon Valley, so we’re looking at Tesla vs. The State of California. And a tabloid with PFWTM (people familiar with the matter) reported that Amazon may be interested in acquiring AMC movie theaters… so we break down this fantasy acquisition. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
12 Touko 202016min
“How to lose a $2.9B guy in 90 days” — Uber acts like McConaughey. Tinder’s corona-conomy DTR. The worst jobs report ever.
Uber stock rose 18% last week despite an earnings report soaked in blood. Match’s earnings reveal how Tinder has fallen behind, but it’s trying to make it up to everyone with video chat and trivia. And the worst monthly jobs report ever has us comparing what’s happening in the actual economy with what’s happening on Wall Street (spoiler: totally different). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
11 Touko 202016min
